Is M1 and 2 easier than step I?

[osumc2014]

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Finishing up M1 year here and I looked at some Step I Q bank questions and really felt that our tests at school were not nearly as hard as some of those questions (I did really well this year, but Q bank questions seemed much more difficult that I'm used to). Is this normal? Or does our curriculum not challenge us enough?

thanks!

 

[dienekes88]

Finishing up M1 year here and I looked at some Step I Q bank questions and really felt that our tests at school were not nearly as hard as some of those questions (I did really well this year, but Q bank questions seemed much more difficult that I'm used to). Is this normal? Or does our curriculum not challenge us enough?

thanks!

It's normal.

If you don't get anything wrong, then you can't learn anything from the QBank.

If you're above 60%, you're solid. If you're above 70%, you're doing really well.

 

[da8s0859q]

Finishing up M1 year here and I looked at some Step I Q bank questions and really felt that our tests at school were not nearly as hard as some of those questions (I did really well this year, but Q bank questions seemed much more difficult that I'm used to). Is this normal? Or does our curriculum not challenge us enough?

thanks!

If you mean UWorld, yes, those questions are usually on the hard side. Normal for UW (or USMLERx even) to feel harder than your own coursework.

I take Step in two weeks, but I will say that judging by shelves and the CBSE and NBME forms I've taken so far, UW / USMLERx are also a little harder than questions you'll see on the real deal. Just my opinion though.

 

[dienekes88]

If you mean UWorld, yes, those questions are usually on the hard side. Normal for UW (or USMLERx even) to feel harder than your own coursework.

I take Step in two weeks, but I will say that judging by shelves and the CBSE and NBME forms I've taken so far, UW / USMLERx are also a little harder than questions you'll see on the real deal. Just my opinion though.

They're harder. However, I'd posit that they're also better written (at least UWorld) than the Boards. During Step 1, there were a few questions for which my thought process was... "WTF? What is this question even asking? Ok, this answer looks less ridiculous than the others... next question!"

 

[Bernoull]

Not to threadjack, but is the UWorld Qbank broken down by subject or are the questions integrated? In other words, can one choose to just do questions on M1 courses (biochem, neuro, physio etc) or do the questions weave in M2 courses (path, pharm etc)?

Thanks

 

[afugazzi]

I also apologize for threadjacking. I am beginning M1 in August. A medical student recommended that I get the Kaplan QBank to help learn the material first year (I am terrible at memorizing and I learn well through problem-solving) and then get the UWorld one 2nd year to actually prepare for boards. Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea? Is enough we learn in 1st year that the QBank would actually help with?

 

[Fleur de Me]

I also apologize for threadjacking. I am beginning M1 in August. A medical student recommended that I get the Kaplan QBank to help learn the material first year (I am terrible at memorizing and I learn well through problem-solving) and then get the UWorld one 2nd year to actually prepare for boards. Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea? Is enough we learn in 1st year that the QBank would actually help with?

OK- I can't speak from experience about the boards, but I have personally never heard of anyone using a Q-bank during first year. I feel like 80% of qbank stuff requires 2nd year knowledge. I'm using a Qbank as I go along in 2nd year, which I think is a good plan.

Concentrate on learning the basics (and learning how to study and have a life)- if you want to be all gunner-y, get a First Aid and annotate the (very few) sections that correlate with first year stuff.

 

[drizzt3117]

I also apologize for threadjacking. I am beginning M1 in August. A medical student recommended that I get the Kaplan QBank to help learn the material first year (I am terrible at memorizing and I learn well through problem-solving) and then get the UWorld one 2nd year to actually prepare for boards. Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea? Is enough we learn in 1st year that the QBank would actually help with?

Lol getting 11% right on that qbank should def build your confidence!

 

[SirGecko]

Qbank first year is a really bad idea. Learn your course material and for questions do old tests. You will have plenty of time second year to do question banks.

 

[2012mdc]

If you mean UWorld, yes, those questions are usually on the hard side. Normal for UW (or USMLERx even) to feel harder than your own coursework.

I take Step in two weeks, but I will say that judging by shelves and the CBSE and NBME forms I've taken so far, UW / USMLERx are also a little harder than questions you'll see on the real deal. Just my opinion though.

UW is meant to be hard because it is a learning tool. They will ask questions about stuff you never saw in class or in FA. I found Step 1 harder than the practice NBME's but easier than UW and the UW assessments. Keep in mind that there are experimental questions.

I found the most effective way to use UW was to do questions correlating with material that you are currently/recently learning in class in tutor mode. I saved the untimed random mode for my dedicated Step 1 time

Not to threadjack, but is the UWorld Qbank broken down by subject or are the questions integrated? In other words, can one choose to just do questions on M1 courses (biochem, neuro, physio etc) or do the questions weave in M2 courses (path, pharm etc)?

Thanks

The Q bank is broken down into general subjects (path, anatomy, biochem etc) and sub subjects (cardio, GI, pulm etc). For example you could choose to do pathology - cardio and GI. Or you could choose path, anatomy, and biochem - pulmonary.

 

[ArcGurren]

I also apologize for threadjacking. I am beginning M1 in August. A medical student recommended that I get the Kaplan QBank to help learn the material first year (I am terrible at memorizing and I learn well through problem-solving) and then get the UWorld one 2nd year to actually prepare for boards. Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea? Is enough we learn in 1st year that the QBank would actually help with?

No, I wouldn't suggest that route. If anything UW is a better teaching tool than Kaplan, period (assuming you use UW on tutor mode so as not to feel completely stupid when you get 20% right while doing questions in first year...). And it's not a necessity by any means.

I used UW during second year micro, path, and pharm on tutor mode to learn. Then I reset it and used it again during my dedicated Step 1 study time to practice the material. I also bought Kaplan Qbank along with it to practice randomized exams.

 

[afugazzi]

Thanks for all your advice!